British Columbia

Syrian child refugees: Reaching out with solace for children in fear

Squamish businessman Adam Greenberg is flying overseas on Air Miles to deliver donated stuffed animals to refugee children, stuck in camps awaiting new lives.

Adam Greenberg of Squamish was inspired by children to deliver stuffed animals to young refugees

Children from Squamish collected the stuffies to help Syrian children stuck in refugee camps, feeling frightened. (CBC)

Squamish businessman Adam Greenberg is flying overseas to deliver donated stuffed animals to refugee children, stuck in camps awaiting new lives.

As a parent I know how it makes me feel when my child is happy.- said Adam Greenberg.

Greenberg says he was inspired after a child at a community meeting told him that when they are scared, hugging a plush toy can help.

He heard from "a couple of little girls" who had collected "stuffies" for children at refugee camps but had run into the challenge of getting the toys to the kids in need.

"And so at that meeting I decided there that that's something that I could do to help." Greenberg said.

Adam Greenberg knows as a parent what it means to make a child happy, so he wants to bring comfort to Syrian child refugees through a delivery of plush animals. (CBC)

He was already looking for a way to reach out and help Syrian refugees, so he decided to deliver solace to little ones this way.

In addition to bringing the plush toys, he raked up $5,000 in donations to help with necessities such as shoes.

"I think for children it's really important that they know they're loved and cared for," said Greenberg, who hopes his act makes those in need realize their stories are crossing continents and touching many cultures.

"As a parent I know how it makes me feel when my child is happy."

Greenberg booked his flight to Germany on credit card points he's accumulated. He plans to visit three camps.